We're sorry, an error occurred.We are unable to collect your feedback at this time. However, your feedback is important to us. Please try again later.

Overview

A streptococcal
screen, also called a rapid Streptococcus
screening test or rapid strep screen, is a test that determines if you have a
type of bacteria called group A Streptococcus
in your throat. This bacterium causes an infection called streptococcal pharyngitis, which iscommonly known as strep throat.

When Do You Need a Rapid Screen Strep Test?

Streptococcal infections are very common, especially in children
between the ages of 3 and 15. The infection is spread by contact with infected
mucus or saliva.

Your doctor will often recommend a rapid strep screening test if
you have a sore throat and fever. Other signs of a strep infection include:

difficulty swallowing

a lack of appetite

chills

low energy level

tender or swollen lymph glands in the neck

In some cases, people with a strep infection have a pink skin
rash that feels like sandpaper. Because strep is less common in adults, your
doctor may not order a rapid strep screening unless you have a combination of a
severe or recurrent sore throat, fever, and swollen lymph nodes in your throat.

What Happens During a Rapid Screen Strep
Test?

A rapid screen strep test is simple and can be done in your
doctor’s office. You don’t need to prepare. However, try to avoid using mouthwash
before the test because it can interfere with results.

Your doctor will examine your mouth to check for red, swollen
areas or other signs of infection. Your doctor will ask you to open your mouth
wide and will use a wooden tongue depressor to hold your tongue down.

Then, your doctor will take a cotton swab and brush it against
the back of your pharynx, or throat,
to obtain a sample for the test. They may do this twice to get more accurate
results. The swabs will be tested with a kit to see if group A streptococcus bacteria are present.

The test isn’t painful, but it does cause minor discomfort. The
position of the swab may cause a gag reflex, thereby triggering a reflex that
makes you want to regurgitate. If your child is having a rapid strep screen, it’s
a good idea to hold their arms or have them seated on your lap. You may need to
help restrain your child.

What Do the Test Results Mean?

The rapid screen strep kit takes about 10 minutes to process. If
the test is positive, you have group A streptococcus
bacteria in your throat and you probably have an infection. In that case, your
doctor will write a prescription for a 5- to 7- day course of antibiotics. If it’s
negative, you don’t have the bacteria in your throat and no antibiotics are
needed.

In some cases, if you have symptoms of a strep infection but your
test comes back negative, your doctor may order a throat culture. A throat culture is similar to a rapid screen
test, but the processing of the sample is more in-depth. It’s also more expensive
and takes longer to get results. It can take up to 72 hours because the swabs
are cultured, which means that any bacteria on them are allowed to grow. A
throat culture can confirm the presence of group A streptococcus bacteria, and it’s generally considered to be more
accurate than a rapid strep screen.

It’s also important to note that a rapid strep screen test only
screens for group A streptococcus,
which is one type of bacteria. This means that if your test is negative, you
could still have an infection from another type of bacteria or virus.

What Happens After the Test?

The test is easy and quick. It has no side effects or risks. If
you test positive for strep, your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics and
recommend that you drink warm fluids and gargle with salt water.

If you test negative for strep but still have a sore throat, your
doctor may look at other possible causes, including infections from other
bacteria or viruses.

If a strep infection is left untreated, it can lead to more
serious medical conditions including: